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Ashley Hayes ReportingJohn Daniel Kingston and Heidi Mattingly were in court today for a custody hearing. While both sides say progress has been made, the battle is not over.
Kingston's court-ordered therapist took the stand today. After that testimony, the judge ended the Division of Child and Family Services involvement with the case so that DCFS no longer has supervision.
The custody battle has been going on for a couple of years. Supervision had been required because of abuse and neglect charges made against Kingston.
The couple still has child support issues to resolve through the court and say they will be happy when they can put the episode behind them.
Heidi Mattingly/Mother: It's bittersweet. It's just that's it's been almost three years... they did not follow the law, the law clearly states that these cases are to be done within one year."
John Daniel Kingston/Father: We as parents have learned a tremendous amount. However I don't see how the benefit from us will outweigh the damage done to our children. It's very sad what this has done to our children, and the effect that the case has had on their lives."
Also today Kingston's lawyer filed a motion that we haven't seen yet, but we understand that it addresses old testimony that Kingston says is inflammatory. He says he's filed the motion to clear his name.
They have 11 children together, two have been adopted, and nine of them are living with Mattingly.
Heidi Mattingly, mother: "Now we can start fixing all the damage. All the damage and all the stress that has happened to our family. Finally, finally we're there."
